Book Review: Emba Oak and the Epic Ending

Title: Emba Oak and the Epic Ending

Written by: Jenny Moore

Illustrated by: David Dean

Published by: Maverick Books

Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!

The fourth and final instalment in Jenny Moore’s Emba Oak series delivers exactly what the title promises, an epic ending, brimming with adventure, peril, humour, and heart.

As Emba’s twelfth birthday approaches, the stakes have never been higher. The malevolent Necromalcom inches closer to achieving immortality, and both the human and dragon realms teeter on the brink of doom. With time running out, Emba embarks on her most dangerous mission yet, one that forces her to confront her evil father, make impossible choices, and wrestle with her evolving identity.

Jenny Moore reunites us with all our favourite characters, each of whom is given a moment to shine in this fast-paced, emotionally rich finale. From ghost armies to dragon sacrifices, betrayal to heartwarming reunions, the story manages to be thrilling and deeply moving all at once. Emba’s inner struggles are explored with nuance, especially as she navigates themes of identity, loss, and love.

The narrative remains true to the tone of previous adventures, complete with the signature alliterated chapter headings that fans have come to adore. And while the tone is often light and humorous, Jenny doesn’t shy away from darker, more bittersweet elements, making this a truly layered conclusion.

What makes this finale so satisfying is how seamlessly it ties together the threads of the previous books. Long-standing mysteries, like the origin of the Tome of Terrible Tomorrows and the meaning of the Final Prophecy are finally resolved. Relationships between characters have matured and changed, and while the series comes to a natural close, Jenny leaves just enough intrigue to spark the imagination about what might lie beyond the final page.

Perfect for young adventurers aged 9 and up, Emba Oak and the Epic Ending is a triumphant conclusion to a brilliantly immersive series. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what Jenny Moore writes next.

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To read my reviews of the other books in the Emba Oak series take a look at:

To read my interview with Jenny Moore about the writing of the Emba Oak series see: Special Guest Q & A with Jenny Moore.

To find out more about Jenny Moore and her books take a look at her website: https://jennymoorechildrenswriter.weebly.com and her blog: https://jennifermoore.wordpress.com/. Or follow her on her various social media outlets:

You can buy copies of all of Jenny Moore’s books from your local bookshops, which are always top of the list – if they don’t have the Emba Oak books in stock they’ll be able to order them in for you. Or you can purchase direct from the publisher Maverick Publishing, otherwise Jenny recommends Hive books or any of the usual online retailers, such as uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops